Jewelry clasp or connector



Dec. 24, 1940. H LEVESQUE 2,225,748

JEWELRY CLASP OR CONNECTOR Filed Jan 28, 1959 Patented Dec. 24, v1940 JEWELRY CLASP on CONNECTOR Arthur H. Levesque, North Attleboro, Mass., as-

signor to R. F. Simmons Company, Attleboro, Mass., a partnership consisting of Harold E. Sweet and Hayward H. Sweet Application'January 28, 1939, Serial No. 253,360

1 Claim.

This invention relates to jewelry clasps and more particularly to clasps for attaching straps, bands or bracelets to wrist-watch bails or the like.

5 One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a clasp of the type indicated adapted to be Ieasily and quickly4 attached to and detached from the bail of a wrist-watch while insuring against accidental detachment during use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of the type indicated having means for attaching the end of a strap, band or bracelet thereto and a resilient hook for connecting the clasp to the bail of a wrist-watch.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a clasp of the type indicated having its resilient hook attached at one end to the body-member of the clasp and adapted to be sprung to yieldingly engage its opposite end with a detent on the body-member to provide a closed loop embracing the wrist-watch bail.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of the type indicated with its hook so constructed and arranged as to cooperate with the body-member to provide a smooth continuous surface along their length.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of the type indicated of simple and compact construction to adapt it for economical manufacture and of pleasing and ornamental appearance.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes 3 two embodiments of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing a ladies wrist-watch of conventional type connected to the ends of a two-part bracelet by means of improved clasps constituting the subject-matter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of one 45 of the clasps illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the hook looped around the bail of the wrist-watch and the end of the hook in latched engagement with the top wall of the body-member to provide a closed loop;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the hook unlatched from the body-member and swung into open position to release the bail of the watch;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts of the clasp shown in disassembled relationship;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a clasp of modified construction;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 'I-l of Fig. 6 showing the end of the hook engaging the edge of an opening in the body-member to latch the hook in closed position on the body member; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the parts of the 10 clasp illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 shown in disassembled relationship.

Referring to the present drawing, Fig. l illustrates a ladies wrist-watch 2 having loop-like bans 3 at its sides to which the ends of a two- 15 part bracelet 4 and 5 are connected by means of the present improved clasps 6. As illustrated in the drawing the parts of the bracelet 4 and 5 are in the form of looped cords, but it will be understood that the clasps 6 may be used with 2o any other type of band, strap, bracelet or the like.

The two clasps 6 illustrated in Fig, 1 are of identical construction and, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, each comprises a hollow body-member IU having a top wall II of a shape to conform to '2 the contour kof the bracelet cor-ds 4 or 5 and depending side walls I2 and I3. The side walls I2 and I3 project beyond the top wall II at one end to provide spaced ears I4 and I5, see Fig. 5. Preferably, the upper edges of the ears I4 and 30 I5 are inclined downwardly from the end of the top wall, the latter forming a transverse shoulder IS between the ears. A bridge or web Il extends between the spaced ears I4 and I5 with its top face flush with the upper edges thereof and its rearward edge spaced from the shoulder I6 to provide an opening I8 therebetween.

The ends of the bracelet cords 4 or 5 are inserted into the body-member IIJ through its open v bottom and clamped thereto by a retaining member I9. 'Ihe retaining member I9 comprises a lever pivotally mounted at one end on a transverse pin 20 extending between the side walls I2 and I3 of the body-member I 0 Ian-d having a toothed jaw 2I at its opposite end for engage- 45 ment with the end of the bracelet. The retaining member I9 also serves to close the open bottom of the body-member IIJ when swung to its closed position, see Fig. 3.

In accordance with the present invention a 50 hook 25 is mounted on the body-member Ill for attaching the clasp to the wrist-watch 2 or the like. The hook 25 is preferably constructed of resilient sheet-metal of a width to adapt it to fit closely between the spaced ears I4 and I5. 55

The metal of the hook 25 is curled around or otherwise formed at one end to provi-de a bearing 2B for pivotally mounting it on a pin 21 extending between the ears I4 and I5 adjacent their outer ends. The hook 25 is reversely bent to provide a loop-portion 28 and its end opposite from the bearing 2G is offset or struck up to provide a depending tongue 29 and a transverse shoulder 39. One form of construction of the clasp having been described in detail its mode of operation is as next explained.

The end of the bracelet cords 4 or 5 is iirst inserted into the body-member I through its open bottom and attached thereto by Arocking the retaining member I9 on its pivot-pin 20 to engage its toothed jaw 2| with the cords. The resilient hook 25 is next swung to its open position illustrated in Fig. 4 and looped around one of the bails 3 at the side of the wrist-'watch 2. The end of the hook 25 is then latched to the' body,- member I by swingingythe hook on its pivot-pin 21 to cause its free end to overlie the top wall II and by then springing4 the tongue 29 under the edge of the top wall adjacent the shoulder I6. The inherent resiliency of the hook 25 acts to yieldingly hold the tongue 29 in engagement withy the under edge of the top wall II and the shoulder 39 in engagement with the shoulder I6 on the body-member I9. Due to the offset relationship of the tongue 29 to the shoulder 30 on the hook 25 the upper face of the latter provides a smooth continuous surface with the top wall II of the body-member I0. It will also be noted that the hook 25 provides a closed loop on the body-member I0 embracing the bail 3 on the wrist-watch 2 to securely attach the clasp 6 to the watch. The clasp 6 may be detached from the bail 3 of the watch 2 by springing the hook 25 to -disengage its tongue 29 from under the edge of the top wall II of the body-member .I9 and swinging the hook on its pivot-pin 21 to the position illustrated in Fig. 4.

A clasp of modified construction is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 of the drawing as comprising a body-member 4I) having a top wall 4I and depending Side walls 44 extending throughout the length of the top wall. The top wall 4I has a transverse slot 42 intermediate its ends forming a forward latching shoulder 43, see Fig. 8. In this latter form of construction the retaining member 45 which is pivotally mounted on the pin 46 has a spur41 projecting at right-angles to its main portion and adapted for engagement in the bight of the looped end of the double bracelet cord 4 or 5, see Fig. '1. The retaining member 45 is held in closed position on the body-member 49 by the frictional engagement of its opposite edges with detent projections 48 on the inner faces of the side walls 44 of the body-member.

A hook member 50 of the same general shape as the hook member 25 is pivotally mounted on a transverse pin 5I extending between the side walls 44 of the body-member 40 adjacent one end thereof. The free end of the hook 50, however, is reversely bent to provide a beak 52 for latching engagement with the forward edge of the slot 42 in the top wall 4I of the body-member 40. The upper surface of the hook member 50 adjacent the point where the end is reversely bent to provide the beak 52 is cut or scored with a notch indicated by the reference character 53 to provide a grip for the :linger-nail.

With the form of clasp `illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 the looped end of the bracelet cord 4 or 5 is attached to the body-member 40 by rocking the retaining member 45 on its pivot-pin 46 to engage its spur 41 in the bight of the loop at the end of the cord. The hook 50 is then looped around the bail 3 of the wrist-watch 2 and sprung to engage the beak 52 at its end with the edge of the Vshoulder 43 on the top wall, the inherent resiliency of the hook being adapted to yieldingly hold the beak inv engagementjwith the shoulder. The hook 50 may be released from its engagement with the body-member 40 by springing the beak 52 upwardly out of the slot 42 by means of the finger-grip 53.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present improved clasp provides for securely connecting a bracelet end to a wrist-watch. It will also be observed that the improved clasp is of simple construction to adapt it for economical manufacture While presenting a pleasing and ornamental appearance to embellish the bracelet.

While I have herein shown two forms of construction of rthe clasp, by way of example, it is to be understood that further modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

A clasp for attaching the endof a bracelet to the bail of a wrist-watch comprising a channelshaped body-member having a top wall with an opening therein and` depending side walls-said channel-shaped body-member being adapted to receive the end of the bracelet, a retaining member mounted on the body-member to adapt it for clamping the end of the bracelet therein, and a resilient hook pivotally mounted at one end between the side walls of the body-member and having a loop-portion projecting outwardly beyond the end of the body-member with a detent. at its free end engageable with the body-memberv through the opening therein, said resilient hook being adapted to be looped around the bail of the wrist-watch and sprung to engage the detent at its free end with the body-'member through the opening therein.

y'ARTHUR H. LEVESQUE. 

